Sunday's Dallas Marathon has been canceled "due to current weather conditions, and forecasted conditions for Saturday and Sunday," the race announced Friday afternoon.

"Safety of our participants, as well as our volunteers and spectators, is our primary concern on MetroPCS Dallas Marathon race weekend," the announcement said. "We regret that the race will not go on as planned, but are confident this decision is in the best interest of our runners, volunteers, spectators and the general public."

The Dallas area was hit today by what's being called one of the worst ice storms to reach the region in recent years. As of Friday afternoon, more than 200,000 people in the area were without electricity, and more than 600 flights in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth Airport had been canceled.

"Current weather conditions are not expected to improve until late Sunday afternoon," city officials said in a release detailing emergency procedures.

"We waited until the last reasonable moment to make this decision," race spokesman Greg Miller told Runner's World Newswire.

"The MetroPCS Dallas Marathon has a standard industry policy of no refunds, transfers or deferrals" Miller told Newswire. "The good news is our organization is a non-profit and donates proceeds from our race to benefit Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, a wonderful facility that provides health care to children."

Last year's Dallas Marathon was held on December 9, when the high for the day was 69 and the low was 42.

In addition to the marathon, the event includes a half marathon and five-person marathon relay. Last year, there were 4,867 finishers in the marathon, and 9,879 finishers in the half marathon.